Crutch.



H. WINTHERS.

GEUTOH.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.10,`1912. Lr, Patented June 3, 1913.

/zf l@ HENRY WINTHERS, F HAMPTON, IOWA.

eaUToH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju nc 3 1 913.

Aprlipaaon mea september io, 191.2. serial No. nacio.

To all whom it may concern Ile 1t known that I, HENRY IVIN'rnERs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ilampton, in the county of lt`ranklinland l 5 State of Iowa, have invented new and use-- ful Improvements in Crutches, of which the following is a specification.

An object of 'the invention is to provide a crutch for use by invalids and deformed persons, to aid said persons in walking.

The invention embodies, among other features, a crutch in which the crutch membersl are relatively adjustable so that the distance between the crutch members can be increased or decreased as desired, `with means for retaining the crutch members in a definite spaced relation, and supporting means for aiding in supporting the crutch in walking position.

In the further-diselosure of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specication, in `which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the crutch; Fig.2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the plates, showing the manner of mounting the same on one of the crutch members.

Referring more particularly to the views, use is made of a plurality of similaiinde pendent crutch members 10, similar in shape to the usual crutch members and provided 5 at their upper ends with curved pads 11 to which a supporting member 12 is secured, the said supporting member preferably consisting of a strap 13 secured to one of the pads 11 and passing through an opening o in the other pad, with the end of the strap looped for connection Witlra buckle 14 so that the supporting member 12 can be adjusted in length, the said supporting member being adapted to project behind the neck of the user when the crutch members are positioned with the pads 11 arranged in the armpits of the user.

Plates 15 are mounted on the crutch members 10 and are adjustably connected there- 0 to by encircling uprights 1G of the crutch `-members witlrstirrups 17, passingthrough 4slotslt'Br-iril thegfplates 15 and having nuts threaded on the ends thereof, the said nuts being larger in size than the width of the 5 slots so that when the nuts are tightened on the stirrups, the plates 15 will be rigidly secured on the uprights 1G, suitable hand. grips 1t) being arranged to connect the up rights 1b ot each crutch member l() near the ylower endsl of the uprights.

rl`he plates 15 are cach 'provided with openings 20, through which the ends of a connecting bar 2.1 are passed, the said connecting bar being adjustable on the plates and normally held rigid thereon by suitable set: screws 22 mounted on the plates and engaging the straight ends of the connecting bars, the medial portion of the connecting bar being curved forwardly of the crutch members :is shown. It will now be seen that thc crutch members l() are held in rigid spaced relation by the connecting bar 2l and it will be further seen that the crutch members can be moved close together or farther apart by adjusting the plates 15 on the uprights lt. rlhe plates 15, connected to the uprghtsl lo by the stirrups 1T, as mention heretofore, can also be adjusted verti cally on the crutch members 10 and by loosening the set screws 22 on the plates 15, the connecting bar 21 can be moved forwardly or rearwardly.

It will now be sccn that in the use of the crutch described. thc crutch members will not only be held in relatively rigid position, but `the crutch members will be substantially supported by the strap 13 connccting the crutch members and passing bchind the neck of the user. It will also be seen that by providing the connecting bar 2l extending forwardly from the crutch members, the swinging movement of the crutch members can be limited, thus prerenting the user from overreaching himself in the use of the crutches and falling to the ground. The medial portion of the connecting bar 21 is preferably circular in cross section and the ends thereofl are preferably made square, with the openings in the plates through which the ends pass also square, so that the set screws 22 can be readily engaged with faces of the square portions of the connect-ing bar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a crutch, the combination with in' dependent crutch members, of a supporting member connecting the crutch members, and a bar connecting the crutch members for relatively adjusting the same.

2. In a crutch, the combination with independent crutch members, of a supporting strap connecting thc same, plates adjustably mounted on the said crutch members, and a bar having adjustable connection with the said plates.

3. In a crutch, the combination with independent crutch members, of plates movable vertically and horizontally thereon, a supporting strap connecting the crutch members, and a bar having adjustable connection with the said plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HENRY WIN'IHERS.

Witnesses:

E., P. ANDREWS, II. Ii. PHELPS. 

